Kindiki to announce way forward after Ruto's running mate pick

Gachagua and Kindiki emerged as the two most favorite candidates to deputise Ruto.

In Summary

• Ruto said after a 17-hour meeting, Kenya Kwanza Alliance, settled on Gachagua.

• DP Ruto had asked Kindiki to shelve his Tharaka Nithi gubernatorial ambitions because he wanted to work with him at the national level.

Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithuri Kindiki speaking to journalists at the UDA Headquarters in Nairobi on the ongoing countrywide party Nominations on April 14, 2022.
Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithuri Kindiki speaking to journalists at the UDA Headquarters in Nairobi on the ongoing countrywide party Nominations on April 14, 2022.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA

Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki is expected to announce the way forward, after DP William Ruto picked MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate.

In a statement on Sunday, Kindiki said he would make an official statement on Monday.

"Following the decision taken by my Party & Coalition regarding the matter earlier today, I will make my official statement in public tomorrow, 16th May 2022. God bless Kenya and thank you," he said in a tweet.

The senator thanked all the people who supported his bid to become the country's second deputy president under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

"I am eternally grateful to all those who supported & vouched for me to be nominated the UDA & Kenya Kwanza Deputy Presidential Candidate in the Elections scheduled for 9th August 2022."

Kindiki who is a close ally of Ruto was conspicuously missing on Sunday, when he unveiled Gachagua as his running mate for the August 9 polls.

Gachagua and Kindiki emerged as the two most favorite candidates to deputise Ruto.

Speaking at his Karen Official residence, Ruto said after a 17-hour meeting, Kenya Kwanza Alliance, settled on Gachagua because he is an astute debator, a principled, resilient and fearless fighter for the right cause. 

"Gachagua is my friend whom  I have worked with, especially on that Bottom-Up Economic model and we started that journey together. He understands people's issues, he is passionate about ordinary people," Ruto said.

Kenya Kwanza Alliance had faced a stalemate after both Gachagua and Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki maintained a hardline stance on the running mate slot.

DP Ruto had asked Kindiki to shelve his Tharaka Nithi gubernatorial ambitions because he wanted to work with him at the national level.

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